AFC Asian Qualifiers
The Taeguk Warriors had to wait until the 44th minute to get ahead through Cho Gue-sung but once they did, never looked back and eventually ran out comfortable 5-0 winners in front of more than 64,000 fans at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
"We needed to have patience in this game,” said Klinsmann. “Until you score the first goal, it's difficult to play teams who basically come to defend with two blocks of five.
"It was very difficult to get through there all the time. But then once you unlocked, the results and the goals came. And the players enjoyed themselves very well.
"When you play these types of games, you never know how it develops. You need the first goal and be careful not to concede.
“You need to avoid making mistakes, continue to play at a high tempo to get the opponent tired. 5-0 - it's a nice score line but it doesn't really show you the energy and effort you have to invest."
Klinsmann’s men ramped up the pressure in the second half with further goals from Hwang Hee-chan (49th), Son Heung-min (63rd), Hwang Ui-jo (68th) and Lee Kang-in (86th) as the European-based players showed their class.
Facing a team in the top 30 of the FIFA World Ranking was always going to be a daunting task for Singapore, who did well to keep the goalless scoreline until late in the opening half, leaving head coach Takayuki Nishigaya proud of what his players produced.
“(The) Korea national team is an amazing team that works as a team and as individuals,” said Nishigaya. “Our players performed well and showed full commitment, so I can only be proud of them.”
Tuesday will see the two winners from Matchday One, China PR and Korea Republic face-off in a tantalising clash in Shenzhen while Singapore will host fellow Southeast Asian side Thailand.
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